Extended X-ray absorption fine structure study of local structure and atomic correlations of tellurium nanoparticles

Extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements were performed on trigonal tellurium (t-Te) and tellurium nanoparticles in very thin films. Twofold coordinated chains, much like those in t-Te, exist even in the nanoparticles, but covalent bonds or intrachain interactions are stronger than those of t-Te as shown by a shorter bond length and higher Einstein temperature. The interchain coordination number of the nanoparticles is about half that of t-Te, suggesting reduction of interchain interactions.